The wind whipped all around the screaming Hitomi as she fell. Her arms and legs were flailing madly. It was the most helpless feeling in the world. Van hastily sheathed his sword, pulled his wings in, and dove after her. He gained speed quickly and closed the distance between himself and Hitomi. As he flew near, he reached out his arms and wrapped one arm under her legs and the other around her shoulders. She quickly wrapped her arms around his neck. Van broke the dive, spread his wings, and swept upwards. He felt Hitomi's grip around his neck loosen as her tense body relaxed in his arms.
"Are you okay?" He asked.
"Now that you're here. Thanks." She replied. Van flew Hitomi back up to the ship and back in to her room. He landed on the balcony and retracted his wings. He carried her over the broken glass and white feathers and gently let her down.
"What WAS that?" She asked him.
"A Valkrie. Legends say they are fierce warriors and amazing trackers, capable of tracking on land and by air. I had never seen one before, until now. Oh Hitomi, I'm sorry! I'll never let you out of my sight again!" Hitomi was a little surprised as Van pulled her into a hug.
"Oh Van, it's not your fault. You saved me. Do…do you think they were sent to find me?"
"I'm sure of it. Dilandau has some powerful resources at hand so I think we need to be prepared for anything."
"Expect the unexpected."
"Huh?"
"Nothing." She said as she pulled away from him. Just then a soldier ran in to the room.
"King Van! Are you and Lady Hitomi alright?"
"Yes, we're fine. Is everyone else okay?"
"Yes, Your Majesty, the fighting has ended." The soldier bowed and ran out.
Wow, Hitomi thought, looking at Van's serious face, I always forget Van is the King of Fanelia. Even when I first met him I couldn't believe he was a prince, and now I forget he's a king.
"Look, I'm not exactly in the mood to sleep anymore." Hitomi said. "Do you think I can go with you?" Van smiled at her.
"Of course. You don't have to ask."
"I know. I guess I'm just nervous about arriving in Asturia."
"Come on." He said as he took her hand and began pulling her towards the door. "Let's go see what happened on the bridge."
"Er…Van?" Hitomi said pulling him to a stop.
"What?"
"Um, could I get a change of clothes first? I don't think this is exactly appropriate." Hitomi said as she glanced at her pajamas. Van blushed in embarrassment.
"Sorry, I wasn't thinking. I guess I should get a new shirt too. Let's go see what we can find."
Van had changed back into his customary red shirt and tan pants, while Hitomi changed in to some of the extra hunting clothes, some brown pants and a green shirt. Hitomi still wore her running shoes though. They met Allen on the bridge and he told them how they had managed to kill the other two Valkries. The ship took some damage from them, but they'd make it back to Palas. Van told Allen what had happened to Hitomi. Allen also said the surviving Valkrie was spotted flying west, probably to report back to Dilandau.
Van and Hitomi remained on the bridge for the last thirty minutes of the journey. Van never left Hitomi's side once. Van tried to fill Hitomi in on everything that had happened in the last six years in Asturia. He told her about Millerna and Dryden getting back together and how they were King and Queen now, and how they had a young boy, Cleff. Hitomi was bubbling with excitement. She couldn't wait to see them again and meet Cleff. She missed her old friends.
Soon they could see the shimmer of the sea in the distance and the tall, proud towers of the castle. It was almost midday so the sun was high and glorious in the sky. Hitomi stared down at the city of Palas in awe. It had been so long since she last had seen it and forgot how truly beautiful it was. Hitomi looked over to find Van staring at her. His eyes were so warm and promising; Hitomi was afraid she might get sucked in and never get out. She blushed.
"So, Your Majesty," she joked, "what has the King of Fanelia been doing all this time?"
"Oh, not much." He said rolling his head back playfully. "Just moping around the castle, daydreaming about a wonderful person from the Mystic Moon." Hitomi turned an even darker shade of red, but smiled warmly at Van. Van smiled back and reached over and tucked a piece of Hitomi's hair behind her ear. Hitomi inwardly sighed as his hand brushed past her face. This is so crazy! She thought. I haven't seen him for six years, we've barely had time to talk, yet I feel so alive when he is near. It feels right. And that kiss…whoa…I hope we can do that again sometime soon.
The ship arrived in the harbor and once again Van and Allen loaded in to a carriage to be taken to the palace, except this time Hitomi was with Van and they were holding hands. Hitomi couldn't wait to see her old friends again, but deep down she was worried it would be weird, or that they wouldn't like her anymore, or that…. Van could feel Hitomi's nervous excitement and patted her hand in reassurance. She sighed and steadied her beating heart. Allen just smiled and looked out the window.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Merle, Dryden and Millerna were waiting outside by the doors to the palace. Only a few minutes ago, a messenger had arrived saying the Exes had returned. Merle could hardly stand still. Was Lord Van okay? Did they find Hitomi? Do they know what happened? Merle's cat ears twitched as she heard something in the distance. She looked down the pathway and waited.
"HERE THEY COME!" She yelled excitedly as a carriage came down the path. Dryden took Millerna's hand and squeezed it. They were both praying that Van had found Hitomi.
As they waited in anticipation, the carriage finally pulled up and stopped in front of them. The door opened and Allen stepped out and nodded his head in their direction. Merle was now holding her breath. Van came out afterwards and then reached back in to help someone else out.
"HITOMI!" Merle cried as she raced towards them. She was laughing and crying as she embraced Hitomi in one of her bear hugs. Merle could hardly believe it. She looked up into those same green eyes and caring face to see her old friend.
"Merle! It's so good to see you again." Hitomi said hugging her back. Merle was almost as tall as Hitomi.
"Oh Hitomi, I'm sorry!" Merle said sniffling, "I don't know why I'm crying."
"It's okay Merle. I'm happy to see you too. I missed you."
"Gee Merle, I'm fine too." Van said, pretending to be annoyed.
"OH, LORD VAN!" Merle said as she practically pounced on him. "I was so worried! I'm so glad you're okay! And I'm so glad you brought Hitomi back!"
"So are we." Said Millerna as she and Dryden came over to greet them.
It was a happy reunion. Hitomi was so happy to see her old friends again. All her doubts and worries she had quickly melted away. Soon after, Millerna took charge and ordered Hitomi to come with her to get cleaned up and taken care of. Before they took her away, Van leaned over and whispered to Hitomi. "I'll see you later." She smiled warmly at him. He winked at her as they left and Merle and Millerna giggled as Hitomi blushed. Millerna and Merle took off with Hitomi and Dryden and Allen took off with Van, towards the council chambers.
Millerna and Merle took Hitomi up to Millerna's rooms. Millerna had some servants prepare a large bubble bath for Hitomi, asked for a light lunch to be brought up, some clothes for Hitomi, and then dismissed them.
"Okay Hitomi." Millerna said her most business-like tone, "strip down and get in that tub." Hitomi giggled and obeyed while Merle and Millerna turned their backs as Hitomi slipped into the scented water.
"Ohhhhh…this is sooooooo nice!" Hitomi coed from the tub. Millerna and Merle came over and sat on cushions on the floor.
"Well Ms. Kanzaki, for someone whose been away from almost six years, you and Van seem to have made up for lost time." Millerna said with a mischievous twinkle in her eye.
"I have no idea what you're talking about." Hitomi said sinking deeper into the water.
"You can't fool us Hitomi." Millerna continued. "We're not blind. First of all, Van wouldn't leave your side until we pealed you away from him. Second, you both have that dreamy look in your eyes, and third, he whispers sweet nothings in your ear before you part. Ahhhh…." Millerna said as she batted her eye lashes. Merle laughed.
"Come on Hitomi, spill!" Merle said.
"I don't believe you two!" Hitomi joked. "I was just rescued from Zaibach, I haven't even been here for an hour, and you want me to 'spill' about Van and I? Well forget it. It's not proper for a girl to…kiss and tell." Hitomi said with a wink and a smile. Millerna and Merle both screeched with excitement.
The rest of the afternoon went a lot like that. Hitomi did end up telling them what had happened in Zaibach, but she also didn't want to talk anymore about it. This was her time to catch up with her friends. After Hitomi bathed, Millerna found a nice green dress for Hitomi to wear. It was a short dress that reached down to her knees, but it was one of those feathery dresses that would twirl out if she spun. It was sleeveless and had a scoop neck like her tank top. It also came with a matching green hat, for when they went outside. The green shoes didn't fit Hitomi, but some nice white ones did. After Hitomi was dressed, Millerna introduced her to Cleff and then they all had lunch together. After Hitomi had glanced at the door for the millionth time, Millerna told her that Van, Allen, and Dryden would probably be stuck in meetings all day. Hitomi blushed and finished her lunch.
It was later in the afternoon and Merle, Millerna, Cleff and Hitomi were having a nice walk around the gardens. It was still a beautiful day. The sky was blue, it wasn't too hot, and the birds were singing. Hitomi had her hat on and was talking and laughing with the others. They came to a fountain. It was a little pool with water shooting out from a bird statue in the center. The little fish in the pool fascinated Hitomi. Instead of orange and white colored fish, they were blue and pink and yellow. She kneeled down beside the pool and took a closer look.
Millerna, who was holding a dozing Cleff in her arms, and Merle were watching Hitomi. Then, something caught Millerna's eye and she gently elbowed Merle. Merle looked up and saw it too and smiled at Millerna. Very quietly they both turned around and left.
"What are these fish called, Millerna?" Hitomi asked. "Millerna?" Hitomi looked up just in time to see Merle and Millerna exiting the gardens. "Hey guys! Wait up!" Hitomi stood up to go, but suddenly her hat was swept off her head. She twirled around to go after it and ended up standing face to face with Van, who was holding her hat.
"Van!" She laughed. "I wasn't expecting to see you so soon!" Van smiled back.
"We got a little break, so I came out here to find you."
"So, are the meetings going okay? Does everyone know what's happening?"
"Everything is going as well as it can." Van sighed. "As soon as we waved the threat of war in their faces, we got their attention. We still have more to attend to, but we want to leave for Fanelia as soon as we can. It really depends on how well the repairs of the Exes are going."
"Can I have my hat back now?" Hitomi asked.
"Hmmm…no." Van said playfully.
"Oh, okay." Hitomi said as she bowed her head in submission. Van was a little surprised. He could have sworn she would've tried to get it back….
"Yoink!" Hitomi said as she grabbed her hat and ran off giggling.
"Hey!" Van said as he went after her. He caught up to Hitomi and grabbed her around the waist and twirled her around. They were both laughing and eventually Van stopped and put her down. Hitomi turned around and leaned on him, playing with his collar.
"I could have out ran you, but I'm in heals." She teased. Van just laughed.
"Van, are we crazy?"
"Maybe." He couldn't believe how good she smelled and how amazing she looked in that dress.
"I mean…I've only been back for a couple of days, and we've only been together for a day, but…."
"But…?"
"This feels so right. When I'm with you I know everything will be okay and that I'll be happy."
Van stepped back, took her hand in his and kissed it. "Hitomi, it's been more than one day. I've been thinking about you ever since you left. I fell in love with you six years ago and now I finally have you back." He kissed her hand again. Hitomi's heart fluttered. Hitomi smiled at Van as he ran his fingers through her soft hair.
"I feel the same way, Van." Hitomi wrapped her arms around Van's neck, stood on her toes, and leaned in to kiss him. Van pulled her closer and kissed her passionately. Soon, he broke off and started kissing her neck, which caused her to giggle with delight. Several minutes later, Van and Hitomi walked out of the gardens, hand in hand.